What you need to know

• Xbox Games with Gold has lived a tumultuous life, providing a wide assortment of free modern and classic Xbox games to subscribers for years.
• Now, the service is finally coming to an end, thanks to Xbox Live Gold being replaced by Xbox Game Pass Core.
• Xbox has revealed the final two games being offered through Games with Gold with Blue Fire and Inertial Drift.
• While both decent games, the Xbox community has been expressing disappointment in how the service is being brought to a close.

Ah, Xbox Games with Gold. A perk offered through Microsoft's online multiplayer subscription, Xbox Live Gold, Games with Gold has been providing free modern and classic Xbox games to players for years. For a long while, though, the service has been besotted with widespread complaints about the quality and quantity of offered games, with many claiming the service was better off sunsetted in favor of the more exciting Xbox Game Pass.

Well, it's finally happening. Xbox Live Gold is being replaced by the basic Xbox Game Pass Core tier on Sept. 14, 2023, and Xbox Games with Gold is shutting its doors forever on Sept. 1. On Thursday, Microsoft announced the final two Xbox games being offered through Games with Gold throughout the month of August. Here they are, with a combined value of $39.99 and 2,000 Gamerscore.

• Blue Fire — Available Aug. 1 to Aug. 31, 2023
• Inertial Drift — Available Aug. 1 to Aug. 31, 2023

Both Blue Fire and Inertial Drift are decent, well-liked games according to player reviews. The former is a Zelda-like 3D platformer and the latter a twin-stick arcade drifting game. While these are both solid games and will likely make plenty of players happy, the Xbox community has still reacted to the announced games with a good degree of ire, criticizing Xbox for closing out Games with Gold "not with a bang, but with a whisper."

Xbox Games with Gold has earned these complaints for years, especially when it's compared to Sony's PlayStation Plus catalog and its regular addition of high-quality, high-profile free game additions. It's undeniable that Xbox Live Gold and its Games with Gold perk has taken a backseat to the more exciting, better-value Xbox Game Pass service and its rotating roster of hundreds of great titles. Still, it would've been nice to see Microsoft usurp expectations for one final hoorah for Games with Gold, like a full set of four titles featuring a good mix of indie, older AAA, and even first-party Xbox games.

Either way, Xbox Games with Gold is coming to an end. On Sept. 14, Xbox Game Pass Core will take its place, and will include a curated collection of over 25 Xbox games (with more added over time) in addition to online multiplayer on Xbox consoles. For those who need the best overall value and features, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes online multiplayer, Xbox and PC Game Pass for access to many of the best Xbox games, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and exclusive perks every single month.

Windows Central's take

The closure of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Games with Gold feels like the end of an era. I've redeemed a lot of excellent titles from the Games with Gold service over the years, and there are still games currently installed on my Xbox that I intend to play in the future. It's sad to see it go, but I recognize the inevitability of the change in light of the success and achievements of Xbox Game Pass.

Still, I can't help but feel like Microsoft has suddenly reduced the value of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which included all Games with Gold releases, just as the service is hit with a marginal price increase. It would've been nice for something to replace Games with Gold on Microsoft's highest-end subscription service, since the entire Xbox Game Pass Core library is already a part of the wider Xbox Game Pass catalog.

It also would've been fun for Microsoft to truly end Games with Gold with a bang, rather than a somber continuation of what we've been seeing from the service for a long time. At least the final titles seem to be good, fun indie games for those interested, but Xbox Games with Gold is dying as it lived — quietly.

What you need to know

• Xbox Games with Gold is a part of Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and gives subscribers free games every month.
• Xbox has announced the Games with Gold coming to players in May 2023, and only two are on the list this time around.
• In honor of Star Wars Day on May 4, Xbox Games with Gold will include Star Wars Episode 1 Racer.
• The second game will be Hoa, a well-received puzzle-platforming adventure.

Xbox Games with Gold is an aging part of the Xbox ecosystem, giving many Xbox subscribers access to a handful of free games every single month. The quality of these games has come under fire from the Xbox community for years, now, but the program has continued as is.

April is drawing to a close, not in a drizzle but in an explosion of new game releases like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Age of Wonders 4. With April's conclusion comes the arrival of May, and a new announcement from Xbox on the titles being offered through Xbox Games with Gold next month. There are only two games this time, but both seem to be well-received by players, and one is actually thematically appropriate for the month of May.

• Star Wars Episode 1 Racer — Available from May 1 to May 31
• Hoa — Available from May 16 to June 15

May 4 is Star Wars Day, so it's nice to see Xbox Games with Gold offer a free Star Wars game to celebrate it, even if it's an aging classic all the way back from 1999. The other game is Hoa, a beautiful, 2D puzzle-platformer that seems to be loved by its players, aside from those encountering a load screen bug. Neither games are high profile additions to the service or count among our best Xbox games, but both titles are sure to make plenty of Xbox players happy.

In other news, Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will also be able to enjoy some Free Play Days. From Thursday, April 27 until Sunday, April 30, 2023, subscribers can play games like Crusader Kings 3, Hell Let Loose, Leap, and Don't Starve Together. Crusader Kings 3 is a critically-acclaimed grand strategy game that absolutely deserves your attention, but it is also already available through Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

What you need to know

• Xbox Free Play Days are a perk for Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold customers that give them the opportunity to play full releases for free over a select few days.
• This week, from November 3 to November 7 you can play Control, Serial Cleaners and NHRA Championship Drag Racing: Speed for All.

Xbox Free Play Days are back this week with three new titles to try out for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Live Gold customers. Control, Serial Cleaner and NHRA Championship Drag Racing: Speed for All — are currently completely free to download and play right up until Monday. Should you wish to buy any of these titles they are also heavily discounted on the Xbox store, and any achievements and progress made during the free trial period will carry over to your purchase. Read on for more information on these three great games. 

Control

Control is a third-person action shooter from Remedy Entertainment, creators of Quantum Break. The protagonist Jesse Faden, director of the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC) is on a personal search for answers and uses telekinetic abilities and firearms to fight her way through a thrilling mystery. The combination of throwing your foes in the air and potentially finishing them with a missile launcher makes for interesting combat techniques. Check out our full review here.

Serial Cleaner

Lets face it, most games are about killing, whether that be your enemies in Call of Duty or taking down a Pukei-Pukei in Monster Hunter World. Serial Cleaners is all about what comes after, who cleans up the mess? You play as Bob Learner, a murder cleaner for hire (think Breaking Bad's Mike), who goes from murder scene to scene cleaning up the evidence. The unique 2D stealth game, set in the 1970's takes you to different crime scenes while avoiding the donut-munching cops to clean and remove evidence left behind by your employers. The soundtrack and unusual visuals make the rather macabre task at hand a delight. Check out our full review here.

NHRA Championship Drag Racing: Speed For All

The National Hot Road Association (NHRA) has an exciting new game 'Speed for All'. Dive into the Drag Racing teams and hit the tracks in your quest to become a champion. Compete at real-world tracks, including the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and burn rubber in single-player and multiplayer modes. If you're a racing game enthusiast and want to upgrade your gameplay, check out our Best Racing Wheels for Xbox.

That's all the free games covered for this week, don't forget you need a an Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to try these titles out. Any progress made will be kept if you decided to purchase the games in full and you have until November 7 to decide!

What you need to know

• Xbox Games with Gold is a free perk included with Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions.
• It grants subscribers access to two free games a month, although it used to provide four.
• The Xbox Games with Gold lineup for Nov. 2022 includes the HD Remaster of Praetorians and Dead End Job.

Everybody's favorite and most valuable gaming add-on, Xbox Games with Gold, is returning with another shining month packed with brilliant titles. Or, rather, Xbox has taken the wraps off the two Xbox One-era games being offered for free to players with an Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Xbox Games with Gold officially removed original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles from the service in October, so players shouldn't be too surprised by the inclusion of only two Xbox One games in Xbox Games with Gold for Nov. 2022. Subscribers will be able to obtain Praetorians HD Remaster and Dead End Job throughout the next month, which add up to a combined value of $37 and 2,000 Gamerscore.

Out of the two games, Praetorians is probably the title that will interest prospective players the most. The HD remaster and console port of the 2003 PC real-time strategy seems to be well-liked by its pool of players, and may provide hours of RTS fun. Dead End Job is a humorous couch co-op action game with a colorful art style. Both games can be added to your library for free solely for having an Xbox Live Gold subscription.

Of course, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also includes Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Games with Gold, while also granting access to hundreds of the best Xbox and PC Game Pass titles. Microsoft's flagship gaming subscription is undeniably a better value than its online-centric counterpart, and it gains more titles all the time. As Xbox Live Gold continues to rest on the backburner for Microsoft, Xbox Game Pass grabs all the attention and headlines.

What you need to know

• For years, Xbox Games with Gold has provided four free original Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One titles a month to subscribers.
• The lineup for Sept. 2022 has been revealed, and will be the last month Xbox 360 games are included.
• Next month, subscribers will be able to add the legendary Portal 2 to their collection.
• Gods Will Fall, Double Kick Heroes, and Thrillville are also included in September's Games with Gold.

Xbox Games with Gold hasn't been considered the most interesting or exciting Microsoft gaming service by many for a long while, but it has been relatively consistent. Every month, two Xbox One and two original Xbox or Xbox 360 games are offered for free to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. The revealed lineup for Sept. 2022 continues this trend, although things are set to change with the following month of October.

Xbox Games with Gold for Sept. 2022 includes an additional four titles for subscribers to add to their library, with a quoted $67 in combined value, and 3,000 Gamerscore up for Achievement hunters to grab. The four titles include:

• Gods Will Fall, available from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 2022
• Thrillville, available from Sept. 1 to Sept. 15, 2022
• Portal 2, available from Sept. 16 to Sept. 30, 2022
• Double Kick Heroes, available from Sept. 16 to Oct. 15, 2022

The headlining title this month certainly appears to be Portal 2, a legendary puzzle platformer that still holds up all these years later. It's fitting, then, that Portal 2 is among the final Xbox 360 titles slated to be offered on the service, as Xbox Games with Gold will stop offering older-generation games starting in October. It's unclear if Microsoft will begin offering four newer Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S games a month, next month, or simply downsize to two. All redeemed older Xbox games will remain available to players in their libraries even without an Xbox Live Gold subscription.

Players seeking superior value and more games to play should be looking past Xbox Live Gold and its lackluster Games with Gold service toward Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft's flagship subscription service includes access to Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Games with Gold, Xbox Perks with Ultimate, Xbox and PC Game Pass, and Xbox Cloud Gaming, all at one monthly cost. That means access to hundreds of amazing games across platforms, with a far more compelling lineup than Microsoft has offered in Games with Gold in recent months.

Most games these days have a multiplayer component, and if you aren't connected you're missing out on some vital stuff. Keep your membership going with this Xbox Live Gold 12-month card on sale for $49.99 at Newegg. Just use the code SSBRAA23 during checkout to knock $10 off the price. The card is $60 without the code, which is the normal price for a year of Xbox Live Gold. This is one of Newegg's Shell Shocker deals, which means the code will expire at the end of the day.

Xbox Live Gold is the primary way to play multiplayer games online when you're playing games on Xbox. It has been for years of course, but there are new changes coming all the time. One subscription gives you multiplayer access to all of your games, and that includes more than just player-on-player action. Play co-op games with others like in the new Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. Engage in Horde Mode in Gears of War with friends. There's a lot you can do online that isn't just Call of Duty multiplayer.

This subscription is also how you gain access to Xbox Games with Gold, which releases several new games for free every month. There are some great games you can pick up at no cost to you. It's a great way to try some new stuff and branch out a bit from your comfort zone, too. Plus you can get some exclusive discounts on everything from new games to downloadable content.

There have been a lot of changes to Xbox Live Gold recently for better and worse. One of the biggest changes is that free-to-play games are now free to play online even without Gold. That includes some titles like Fortnite and Smite and some other really popular games.

Xbox Live Gold is Microsoft's original premium online service that allows Xbox users to upgrade their gaming experience. The monthly subscription service grants access to online multiplayer for all Xbox games, huge discounts with Xbox Deals with Gold, and four free games to download every month.

While Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers mountains more discounts, features, and free games to try out every month at $14.99, Xbox Live Gold offers a less expensive option at $9.99 per month. It gives players a taste of the Xbox's online perks, including the full online capabilities of the Xbox One, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X, without the added bloat of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

However, paying upfront on the Microsoft Store for Xbox Live Gold membership isn't the only way you can purchase this service. You can buy codes that offer several months of Xbox Live Gold Membership in bulk, sometimes offering better value over the regular monthly fee. We're rounding up all the places where you buy membership codes for Xbox Live Gold at discounted prices, helping you save money on future Xbox gaming ventures.

The cheapest Xbox Live Gold deals right now

There are multiple options available when you want to purchase Xbox Live Gold. You can buy codes for Xbox Live Gold Membership, which grant several months' worth of membership time. While the same one-month and three-month plans are available, Microsoft also sells six-month and 12-month codes.

• The one-month code costs $9.99.
• The three-month code costs $24.99.
• The six-month code costs $39.99.
• The 12-month code costs $59.99.

Out of all these deals, the 12-month code represents the best value for money. You would be acquiring a year-long Xbox Live Gold Membership for half the price it would cost if you went with the default monthly subscription. However, the six-month and 12-month codes aren't sold through Microsoft Stores; they're sold through third-party retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and others.

Best Xbox Live Gold Deal

Currently, the best deal for a 12-month Xbox Live Gold code is on Amazon. It is on offer for $55 versus the standard price of $60, or $120 if you were paying separately.

Xbox Live Gold Monthly plans

You can also procure one of two monthly plans from the Microsoft Store, spanning a $9.99 monthly rate, and $24.99 for three months, both of which can be canceled at any time. If this service isn't to your liking or you are low on funds, you can get a refund by canceling your membership before your first reoccurring bill is due.

Is Xbox Live Gold worth it in 2022?

In our Xbox Live Gold review, we stated that it is becoming increasingly harder to buy this subscription service over Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which only has a slightly higher monthly fee of $14.99. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has Xbox Live Gold built in alongside Xbox Cloud Gaming and EA Play.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also allows you to download hundreds of games for a lengthy period of time. These can range from AAA blockbusters like Halo Infinite to third-party indie titles like Hades. And unlike Xbox Live Gold, which is only limited to home consoles, the features of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate apply to all Microsoft platforms such as home consoles, PCs, and mobile devices where you can stream and play the best Xbox Game Pass games via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

However, that doesn't mean Xbox Live Gold doesn't have merits on its own. The subscription cost is cheaper, especially when paid upfront through codes, the free games per month and Deals with Gold are exclusive to Xbox Live Gold, and it has a neat secret trick where you can save money when purchasing Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

When you upgrade your account, it converts any remaining months of Xbox Live Gold membership into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, at a 1:1 ratio, i.e., one month of Gold equals one month of Game Pass, with a max conversion limit of 36 months. So, you could potentially buy three years' worth of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time by converting the time you acquired through 12-month Xbox Live Gold membership codes. And the best part is that a 12-month Xbox Live Gold membership code ($60) is only $15 more expensive than the retail price for one three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code ($45). This means you could get 12 months of subscription Xbox Game Pass Ultimate time for under half the cost of four three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate codes ($180).

Although, if you're not interested in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate's Netflix-style service and only desire the online features to play all multiplayer games online for a lower price, you can't go wrong with Xbox Live Gold.

Xbox Live Gold has always been the paid subscription for Xbox gaming, providing full access to Microsoft's gaming network with a range of exclusive benefits. That includes access to online multiplayer, various social features, free games, and discounts on the regular. But Xbox Live Gold isn't for everyone and coupled with some big changes to Xbox Live's free tier, you might consider canceling your membership.

How to disable auto-renew for Xbox Live Gold

By canceling your Xbox Live Gold subscription, understand that you'll be losing access to all your previous benefits of the service. In the future, multiplayer for most games and other Xbox Live Gold services will be inaccessible, including access to free titles previously obtained via Games with Gold.

1. Navigate to account.microsoft.com/services.
2. Sign into your Microsoft account.
3. Navigate to the Xbox Live Gold subsection of the page.

4. Click Manage.
5. Choose Turn off auto-renew.
6. Select Confirm cancellation.

Upon completing the steps, your Xbox Live Gold subscription will no longer renew going forward. Your existing Xbox Live Gold membership will continue until the current paid period passes, meaning all benefits are still usable in the meantime.

Is Xbox Live Gold worth it versus Game Pass Ultimate?

Since network-wide Xbox Live Gold changes, introduced in April 2021, free-to-play multiplayer games no longer require a subscription to Xbox Live Gold. Great news for gamers who prefer sticking to titles like Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Fortnite. For anyone else dropping $60 on a hit multiplayer blockbuster, they'll need to then fork out some extra cash for Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate if they want to play with friends.

Even for offline-centric gamers who prefer story-driven games, it's worth exploring the benefits of Game Pass Ultimate. As well as access to the Game Pass library, you get all the benefits of Xbox Live Gold too. Though it comes in at a higher price than Live Gold, Game Pass Ultimate includes the Games with Gold program, which awards two free games a month, including Xbox 360 backward-compatible titles. These games never leave your library as long as your subscription is active, unlike the rotating games library of Game Pass.

The top package for everything Xbox, a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes access to PC Game Pass. Should you split your gaming time between consoles and keyboards, you'll have access to the PC side of the Game Pass library. These upgrades make Game Pass Ultimate much better value for money than Xbox Live Gold, which has lost its spark.

How to save on Xbox Live Gold

If you consider checking out Game Pass Ultimate instead of canceling Live Gold, you can upgrade your Gold membership to Game Pass Ultimate for as little as $1 via Microsoft.

Though Microsoft has discontinued its 12-month digital subscription to Xbox Live Gold, it is still possible to buy the year-long codes from third-party retailers. The 25-character codes will either be hidden on physical cards with a scratch-off panel or e-mailed to you directly from online retailers. Redeem your code on the subsection of Microsoft's website here, and your membership extends instantly.

Similar discounts often appear for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-month codes, so check local retailers regularly for price cuts and capitalize on Xbox multiplayer savings.

Xbox Live Gold is your gateway to multiplayer on console, with almost two decades the go-to Xbox subscription. With more games than ever built with multiplayer in mind, the online membership ensures you're getting the best value from your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S libraries.

But last year brought network-wide changes, shaking up the Xbox Live Gold offerings for the latest console generation. Microsoft lifted the paywall for free-to-play content, and in the process, axed the mandate for some of the most popular games on the market. The company also continues to offer regular free Games with Gold, but with quality on the decline, as Xbox Game Pass takes center stage. Here's what's happening with Xbox Live Gold for 2022 and whether the subscription is right for you.

Xbox Live Gold: Price and availability

Xbox Live Gold is available as a monthly subscription for $9.99 per month in the U.S. and over 40 additional territories. It's also available in upfront installments for savings on the usual monthly rate, priced at $24.99 for three months, $39.99 for six months. Xbox Live Gold is available through a 12-month prepaid membership for $59.99 via third-party retailers like Amazon, GameStop, and Walmart, although no longer through Microsoft. This tiered pricing structure makes it better to purchase Xbox Live Gold in bulk upfront, over the monthly fee.

Microsoft's all-inclusive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription includes Xbox Live Gold, too, coupled with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC, cloud gaming on mobile, and other perks like EA Play. The subscription is available for a flat $14.99 monthly rate in the U.S. While Xbox Game Pass Ultimate offers considerably more perks, you can't buy it discounted in bulk.

While Microsoft outlined plans to increase Xbox Live Gold pricing back in January 2021, it later reversed the decision following widespread backlash.

Xbox Live Gold has changed: What's new?

Microsoft rolled out sweeping changes to Xbox Live Gold back in 2021, shaking up the value proposition for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S owners. The drastic policy shift changed up a subscription that's gone untouched in years, opening previously paid features to any Xbox console owner. That chiefly includes dropping the Xbox Live Gold requirement on free-to-play multiplayer titles, plus opening multiple social features to all on Xbox.

Xbox consoles have required an Xbox Live Gold membership to access online multiplayer since their inception, but changes introduced last April dropped that mandate for free-to-play games. You no longer need to pay the monthly fee on many popular titles, including Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Halo Infinite, and Apex Legends, to name a few. While all paid Xbox games still require Xbox Live Gold, those with zero-cost entry are entirely free on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

The platform also lifted the Xbox Live Gold requirement on Party Chat and Looking for Group (LFG) on Xbox consoles, two popular social features for multiplayer. The former, Microsoft's staple voice chat system for Xbox, finally opened communication among all players. The LFG system also provides a platform to search for teammates and like-minded players across the Xbox network, filtering users by game and various social preferences.

Changes to Xbox Live Gold undoubtedly changed the value of the subscription, bringing various features, once exclusive to paying customers, to all users. It means that Xbox Live Gold isn't for everyone, and depending on your preferred games, it could be a waste of your money. This review lays out some of the top perks enabled by Xbox Live Gold today and whether the price tag is worthwhile for you.

It's worth adding that these changes came during a time of change for Xbox Live Gold, with further tweaks potentially ahead over the coming years. Changes made in 2021 shadowed botched plans to increase Xbox Live Gold pricing, increasing monthly costs, and doubling annual pricing to $120 per year. Those plans were later reversed in response to pushback, with Microsoft committing to current pricing while shaking up its free-to-play approach.

The net result offers better value to all right now, but it's clear Microsoft is keen to shake up Xbox Live Gold, especially with the continued success of Xbox Game Pass. With more changes likely to come, it's worth reassessing whether Xbox Live Gold is for you and the alternative plans available in the Xbox ecosystem.

Xbox Live Gold: What you'll like in 2022

Xbox Live Gold comes with various benefits for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S owners, foremost delivering the best of Microsoft's online services. It enables access to the whole multiplayer experience across the Xbox network, coupled with exclusive subscriber benefits. Xbox Live Gold's offerings have evolved with time, but it remains an essential membership for Xbox consoles.

The subscription unlocks access to staple Xbox features, and multiplayer is the defining component that justifies that price tag. From competitive multiplayer shooters to cooperative adventures, Xbox Live Gold is vital to playing console games online with friends. The subscription grants access across thousands of Xbox experiences, drawing the best value from purchased titles. Some may criticize the move, with free multiplayer gaming the norm on PC, but it's the reality of gaming on modern Xbox and PlayStation consoles.

Recent changes to Xbox Live Gold impact free-to-play games, which only apply to a subset of the Xbox Live userbase. Only those cycling through the small free library will benefit from the policy, whereas top franchises from Call of Duty to FIFA still require a paid membership. Unless exclusively playing free titles like Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, and Apex Legends, you'll need to lean on the paid subscription or limit the titles you play.

Microsoft's Xbox network has proven consistently reliable in recent years, with sturdy connectivity, proven security, and generally infrequent outages. The monthly Xbox Live Gold subscription all feeds into supporting the underlying Xbox service by contributing to servers, maintenance, and daily operations. Yes, Microsoft could easily offer those Xbox Live Gold benefits for free, but it's all part of the price of the closed Xbox ecosystem.

Xbox Live Gold's merits don't just sit with multiplayer, with the service also stowing exclusive benefits for members. The "Games with Gold" program, first debuted back in 2013, continues to provide free Xbox games regularly. Microsoft also serves various subscriber-only discounts and "Free Play Days" for demos of paid titles. They're not singular reasons to subscribe but welcomed bonuses for those invested in the multiplayer services.

Games with Gold provides no-cost rewards to all Xbox Live Gold subscribers, with four games every month — two for Xbox One and two backward-compatible Xbox 360 games. Each title must be manually claimed, with each monthly quartet often valued between $50 and $100. The titles are rarely new or relevant, with a drop in perceived quality as of late, but they're still free titles to bolster your library.

Microsoft also hosts "Deals with Gold," spinning out weekly Gold-exclusive discounts across Xbox One titles. Members may also see further price reductions on seasonal sales, making it a handy addition for those virtual shopping sprees.

Xbox Live Gold currently costs $10 per month when purchased monthly, which falls in line with many digital subscriptions available today. The real value comes when purchasing a membership in one upfront installment, where 12-month codes over halve the cost at $60 per year. That pushes Xbox Live Gold to an incredibly affordable price, making it easier to recommend to undecided Xbox owners.

Microsoft also has some lucrative incentives for families, applying one Xbox Live Gold membership to all accounts on the same console. Families using several Xbox profiles on one shared device automatically share the benefits of Xbox Live Gold perks, so you don't need to double-dip on the subscription. It's an ideal means to bring the whole family on board.

For many Xbox owners, investing in Xbox Live Gold is a no-brainer. It's mandatory for most multiplayer experiences, and for many, it's an assumed cost of using the console. Those existing subscribers likely don't need convincing Xbox Live Gold is worth the entry, and free-to-play changes had only a minor impact on the subscription's value. While some may push back against paying for multiplayer access, you're getting a pass to a consistently robust and reliable network for gaming.

Xbox Live Gold: What's not good in 2022

While Xbox Live Gold delivers upon all its promises, unlocking the full multiplayer experience on Xbox consoles, the subscription has its shortcomings. For some, it's the concept of paid multiplayer, whereas free online gaming is an overlooked luxury for many on PC. But the subscription's current offering has also fallen under scrutiny, especially given past changes to free-to-play gaming.

While paying for online multiplayer has proven the norm for Xbox, that's not to say it's dodged heavy scrutiny at times. According to reputable reports, Microsoft even looked to phase out paid multiplayer back in 2019, as Xbox Game Pass takes the spotlight moving forward. The recent tweaks to free-to-play multiplayer have since materialized in a move that, for some players, could eliminate the need for Xbox Live Gold.

Free-to-play games now make up some of the most popular Xbox games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Halo Infinite, and Apex Legends. There's a valid argument to cancel your Xbox Live Gold subscription if among those only using a console for those no-cost titles. That hugely restricts which experiences you can play, but it's an ideal way to save on your upgoing gaming costs.

Previous Xbox Live Gold-exclusive features are also freely available, including Party Chat and LFG services, following the changes made to the service last year. They likely shouldn't have been locked behind a paywall to begin with, yet they're still lost benefits of the subscription. It's now explicit that Xbox Live Gold solely aims to provide a full-fledged multiplayer experience rather than a blanket "all-inclusive" online service.

But it's clear Xbox Live Gold has fallen out of favor in recent years, with Microsoft doubling down with its Xbox Game Pass subscription. The Netflix-style subscription serves hundreds of games for a flat monthly fee, including all Microsoft-made titles from launch and various third-party experiences. There's also the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, its all-inclusive tier, which bundles Xbox Game Pass for Xbox and PC, Xbox Live Gold, EA Play, and Xbox Cloud Gaming into a single $15 plan.

Xbox Game Pass continues to score heavy-hitting deals, from popular existing Xbox games, to those upcoming, launching directly into the service. That ranges from in-house exclusives like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5, while Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Extraction recently hit the service day and date. The benefits of recent Microsoft acquisitions like Bethesda Softworks have also failed to trickle down to the "Games with Gold" program, while the best Xbox Game Pass games only get better.

Microsoft wants to sell you Xbox Game Pass, and as its newest focus for the platform, Redmond has aggressively pushed this new monthly model. Meanwhile, Xbox Live Gold feels like a necessity, something you have to buy, lacking the perceived value of Xbox Game Pass. That's the difference in the image of each service, which can make Xbox Live Gold feel somewhat lackluster, in comparison.

Xbox Live Gold in 2022: Is it worth it?

You should buy this if ...

• You want to play multiplayer games on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S
• You want an affordable subscription (best when paid upfront)
• You don't want Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You want affordable games (Xbox Game Pass is better)
• You only play free games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends
• You only use Xbox services on Windows PCs

Xbox Live Gold upgrades your Xbox gaming experience, and while it has changed over the years, the service still serves the same purpose for most. It's the only gateway to playing multiplayer games on Xbox One or Xbox Series X|S, although the value will vary on each user. While frequent online gaming across various titles demands Xbox Live Gold, those who prefer singleplayer games, or stick to popular free experiences like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone, have little reason to pay up.

Xbox regulars shouldn't overlook Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft's new higher-tier subscription, bundling Xbox Live Gold alongside other benefits. It costs more, at $15 per month, but unlocks hundreds of games in the price as one of the best deals in modern gaming.

Free-to-play changes also mean that many of the most popular Xbox games no longer require Xbox Live Gold, especially suited to casual users who play only a few titles and can't justify the subscription for infrequent gaming sessions. But the moment you stray away from this curated list, investing in a 12-month Xbox Live Gold membership delivers the best value out there.

What you need to know

• Microsoft revealed the November 2021 Games with Gold titles.
• As usual, there's four games, with this month offering Moving Out, Kingdom Two Crowns, Rocket Knight and Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes.
• Xbox Live Gold is included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Microsoft shared the November 2021 Games with Gold on Friday. As usual, there's two Xbox One games and backward compatible Xbox 360 games. Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can look forward to grabbing Moving Out, Kingdom Two Crowns, Rocket Knight and Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes at no extra cost.

Moving Out is a high-stakes furniture moving game that can be played in co-op, with similar chaos and shenanigans to games like Overcooked. Kingdom Two Crowns is a 2D sidescrolling "micro strategy" game that has players explore, conquer and build up a kingdom that'll last. Rocket Knight will see players overcome a vicious army of wolves, while Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes introduces some of Batman's allies from the Justice League.

While Xbox Games with Gold continues to offer monthly games for subscribers, the games are often much older than the titles added into Xbox Game Pass.

What you need to know

• Xbox Games with Gold gives players a few free games each month as part of their Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
• For July 2021, Xbox is offering four games: Planet Alpha, Rock of Ages 3: Make and Break, Conker: Live and Reloaded and finally, Midway Arcade Origins.
• Many Xbox players continue to call for improvements to Xbox Live Gold, such as better free games, or a removal of the service altogether.

Microsoft unveiled the monthly lineup of titles being offered with Xbox Games with Gold today via Xbox Wire. The standout is easily Conker: Live and Reloaded, a crass adventure from the developers at Rare since before the team was ever part of Xbox Game Studios. The other games being offered are Planet Alpha, Rock of Ages 3: Make and Break and Midway Arcade Origins.

Xbox Game Pass continues to be the main focus for Microsoft's monthly offering, with the games offered through Games with Gold being notably older. Xbox Live Gold has seen changes this year, with the service no longer being required in order to enjoy free-to-play multiplayer titles online.

Xbox Live Gold is bundled into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which also includes Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass for PC, EA Play and Xbox Cloud Gaming. Xbox Cloud Gaming recently expanded, with a browser-based option now available on Windows 10 and Apple devices, with 1080p 60 FPS streaming available now that the server blades are powered by Xbox Series X hardware.

What you need to know

• Xbox Games with Gold is a perk included in Xbox Live Gold that nets players four free games every single month.
• The Xbox Games with Gold for June 2021 has been revealed, and includes games like Injustice: Gods Among Us and The King's Bird.
• Recently, the program has come under fire for a lackluster selection of free games, with old or obscure games dominating.
• There have been calls from Xbox players to shelve Xbox Games with Gold in favor of the superior and more value-driven Xbox Game Pass service.

As we near the end of May, Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox Games with Gold for June 2021. The four free games being offered through the Xbox Live Gold program (also included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate) will likely disappoint many players, but plenty of people should also be able to find something they love here. Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Games with Gold both have experienced a shift in perception in recent years as Xbox Game Pass continues to dominate the value wars, but you can still add these four titles to your games library over the next month.

Xbox Games with Gold for June include four games worth a combined $80 and 3,200 Gamerscore, with the headlining game absolutely being the Xbox 360 backward compatible version of Injustice: Gods Among Us. The month will begin with The Kings Bird from June 1 to June 30 and NeoGeo Battle Coliseum from June 1 to June 15. Then, Shadows: Awakening will be available from June 16 to July 15, with Injustice: Gods Among Us from June 16 to June 30.

In our Xbox Live Gold review, it became clear that the outlook for the service wasn't the same as when it made its groundbreaking debut. Recent changes to Xbox Live Gold like the removal of the free-to-play multiplayer paywall, the middling offers from Xbox Games with Gold, and the rise of the value-driven and all-around-superior Xbox Game Pass Ultimate insinuate that Xbox Live Gold isn't going to be around forever anymore. While many players may still appreciate the free games they earn every month with Xbox Games with Gold, lots of vocal players have made it clear they wouldn't mind this shift.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is certainly one of the best values in gaming right now, with access to hundreds of high-quality games across Xbox and PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Games with Gold, and exclusive perks all included in one monthly subscription. If you're still not sold, be sure to check out some of the best Xbox Game Pass games, and all the new games coming to Xbox Game Pass.

Two decades on, and Xbox Live remains a staple of Microsoft's gaming efforts, fundamental to its Xbox home consoles, and touching PCs and mobile too. That's coupled with its long-running Xbox Live Gold subscription, a monthly membership unlocking its full suite of online features, including multiplayer, party chats, and exclusive bonuses. But the gaming network, and Xbox Live Gold, have undergone a significant revamp, laying out wide-reaching changes for all.

Here's what's just changed with Xbox Live and Xbox Live Gold in 2021.

What's changing with Xbox Live Gold?

Microsoft has shaken up its Xbox online services this year, with some of the most extensive changes to date for Xbox Live. It skews the value proposition of its Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles, making online multiplayer more accessible and better positioning its services against the competition. That all stems from an ongoing effort to reshape its subscription portfolio, changing up the value of Xbox Live Gold as Xbox Game Pass takes the spotlight.

The new changes for Xbox Live Gold impact its online multiplayer, the subscription's primary draw since its inception. Microsoft has lifted the requirement for Xbox Live Gold to play free-to-play titles online, making these true no-cost experiences on the platform. That mimics a similar policy seen on PlayStation consoles, with no PlayStation Plus requirement for free-to-play games.

This massive policy shift impacts a considerable slice of Xbox owners, with free-to-play titles among the top games played today. Experiences include Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends, all drawing millions with no upfront cost. Microsoft has now rolled out these Xbox Live Gold changes, and multiplayer automatically works across these titles, subscription-free.

While Microsoft didn't hugely publicize how this impacts Xbox Party Chat, the feature has also gone free this year. The voice chat feature previously required an Xbox Live Gold membership but is now complimentary on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. Xbox users can talk over a private voice chat, ideal for communicating while playing various games. The Looking for Group (LFG) feature used to find like-minded players online also went free this April.

Microsoft has also dropped the Xbox Live branding, steadily adopting the Xbox network branding moving forward. However, the Xbox Live Gold name will remain as is — a move designed to help better distinguish the underlying service from the paid subscription.

When will these Xbox Live Gold changes arrive?

The new changes to Xbox Live Gold are now rolling out on Xbox consoles. Following the change, free-to-play multiplayer games are now playable on any account with or without an Xbox Live Gold subscription. Some titles, like Call of Duty: Warzone and Destiny 2, issued mandatory updates related to the change, which must be installed before accessing free-to-play multiplayer. The release follows what looked to be a somewhat reactionary announcement in January, with several weeks of testing through the Xbox Insider Program.

Which multiplayer games will be free-to-play online?

Microsoft made a sweeping change across the Xbox platform, unlocking multiplayer across all free-to-play content on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. That includes many of today's best Xbox games, including Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends. Other highlights include Destiny 2, Hyper Scape, ROBLOX, SMITE, Warframe, and World of Tanks, to name a few. Future titles that launch for free on Xbox consoles will come with the same exemption from Xbox Live Gold restrictions. Here's the full list of free-to-play titles that don't require Xbox Live Gold on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S:

• 3on3 FreeStyle
• Aegis Wing
• APB Reloaded
• Apex Legends
• Armored Warfare
• Battle Ages
• Battle Islands
• Battle Islands: Commanders
• Bless Unleashed
• Brawlhalla
• Call of Duty: Warzone
• Crackdown
• Crackdown 2
• Crimson Alliance
• Crossout
• CRSED: F.O.A.D.
• Darwin Project
• Dauntless
• DC Universe Online
• Dead or Alive 5 Last Round: Core Fighters
• Dead or Alive 6: Core Fighters
• Defiance 2050
• Destiny 2
• Doritos Crash Course
• Dungeon Defenders II
• Enlisted
• Eternal Card Game
• Family Game Night
• Fishing Planet
• Fortnite
• Galaxy Control: Arena
• Gems of War
• Happy Wars
• Harm's Way
• Hawken
• Hyper Scape
• Killer Instinct
• Korgan
• Minion Masters
• Neverwinter
• Outriders (Demo)
• Paladins
• Path of Exile
• Phantasy Star Online 2
• Phantom Dust
• Pinball FX2
• Prominence Poker
• Realm Royale
• Rec Room
• Resident Evil Revelations 2
• ROBLOX
• Rocket League
• Rogue Company
• Skyforge
• SMITE
• Spacelords
• Spellbreak
• Star Trek Online
• Techwars Global Conflict
• TERA
• The Four Kings Casino and Slots
• Too Human
• Trove
• Vigor
• War Thunder
• Warface
• Warframe
• World of Tanks
• World of Warships: Legends
• Yaris

Is the cost of Xbox Live Gold increasing?

No — while Microsoft previously outlined plans to increase the cost of its Xbox Live Gold membership, the company changed course following widespread backlash among users. The price of Xbox Live Gold would double for many under the proposed changes, changing to $60 for six months versus the previous $60 12-month subscription. Xbox Live Gold members on a per-month payment would also see their plans increase $1 per month, at $11 per month. This adjustment is no longer planned.

Microsoft first detailed plans to change Xbox Live Gold pricing back in January, citing "changes in regional marketplaces," and increased investments in the Xbox network. The negative response saw it backtrack less than 24 hours later, with no planned changes to the value of Gold. It also used the opportunity to announce changes around free-to-play titles, which set work in motion over the following months.

While Xbox Live Gold pricing could increase later, Microsoft remains committed to current prices, at least right now. That further distances the subscription from the all-inclusive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier, currently costing $15 monthly or $180 a year, including Xbox Live Gold alongside other benefits across the platform.

Is Xbox Live Gold worth it in 2021?

These latest changes to Xbox Live Gold represent its biggest evolution since its launch on the original Xbox, leaving some to question whether they need the subscription in 2021. It's fair to say there's less reason to purchase the membership after these changes, with previous member-only benefits now freely available on the consoles. But Xbox Live Gold still plays a crucial role, underpinning the online multiplayer for all other titles on the platform.

For those who exclusively play Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, or other free-to-play games on Xbox, these changes could net some savings on that monthly cost. These top titles can all be played subscription-free, coupled with free Party Chat access to communicate with friends. But straying beyond the small pool of free games, Xbox Live Gold is essential for online multiplayer. That's a decision unique to you but worth consideration following the switch-up.

What you need to know

• Xbox Live Gold is no longer required for free-to-play games on Xbox consoles.
• This move brings the Xbox platform in line with Windows 10 PCs.
• Microsoft first announced the change in January and has tested it out leading up to its general availability.

Microsoft just took a huge step to make games on Xbox consoles more accessible. People no longer need Xbox Live Gold for free-to-play games on Xbox consoles, including the Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. You also won't need an Xbox Live Gold subscription for free-to-play games on older hardware like the Xbox One S and original Xbox One.

Alongside dropping the requirement to have Xbox Live Gold to play free-to-play games, Microsoft also removed the requirement to have Xbox Live Gold to look for Groups and Party Chats.

This move has been known about for some time, but we were waiting to find out the exact moment it dropped. Microsoft first announced that Xbox Live Gold wouldn't be required for free-to-play multiplayer games back in January. The company then tested the feature out on its Alpha, Alpha Insider, Beta, and Omega rings for Xbox Insiders.

Many of the best Xbox games are free-to-play, including Call of Duty: Warzone, Rocket League, and Fortnite. Now, gamers can jump onto these titles and play online without having to pay for a monthly Xbox Live Gold subscription.

Xbox Live Gold isn't tremendously expensive, but it adds up over time. If a player only plays free-to-play games, they can save hundreds of dollars over a few years. Additionally, there seems to be a new streaming service each month, so having some extra cash around could help pay for something like Xbox Games Pass or Disney Plus.

What you need to know

• Xbox Live Gold as a requirement for online play is going away for free-to-play games on Xbox.
• Microsoft is currently testing this change in all branches of the Xbox Insider program.
• There are a few exceptions, however, with games like Destiny 2 and Call of Duty: Warzone still requiring Xbox Live Gold.
• This should be fixed in a future update, but Microsoft hasn't provided a date or any kind of expectation for when.

In a historic change for Xbox Live, Microsoft's online network that has powered Xbox since the original, Xbox Live Gold is being dropped as a requirement to play free-to-play online games. As of today, Microsoft is now testing this Xbox Live Gold change in all Xbox Insider branches, indicating that this momentous shift is nearly ready for a public rollout. However, it seems that some free-to-play games still require Xbox Live Gold, and Microsoft has acknowledged the issue.

From the latest Xbox Insider changelog:

• We are aware that some titles do not currently support the Free-to-Play multiplayer testing currently available in Preview. We are working with the studios as the titles require an update to support this service change
  • Note: Titles currently not supported include Destiny 2 and Call Of Duty: Warzone. Please Report a problem with any other titles that are not working

It seems that in both of these cases, the games require input from the developer in order to support the new Xbox Live Gold policy. It should be noted that Destiny 2 used to be a premium paid game and still requires PlayStation Plus for matchmade activities on PS5 and PS4. Call of Duty: Warzone is also free-to-play, but was released as an add-on for the premium Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Both games are certainly a little messier than other free-to-play games.

Microsoft hasn't revealed when a fix is coming for the issue, but hopefully, all free-to-play games will be playable without Xbox Live Gold by the time the update rolls out to the general public. Neither game works in current tests, so these games may have to wait a little longer. Users in the Xbox Insider program should also keep an eye out for any other free-to-play games that still require Xbox Live Gold to play online.

This is the most significant Xbox Live Gold change since the network's debut, and would make it truly free to play free-to-play games on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One. Many of these games are some of the best Xbox games around.

Updated Jan. 23, 2020, 12:15 a.m. ET: Early Saturday morning, Microsoft announced it was rolling back the Xbox Live Gold price hike it revealed the day before. Prices will stay the same — $9.99 for one month, $24.99 for three months, $39.99 for six months, and $59.99 for 12 months. Microsoft also revealed players will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play free-to-play games on Xbox. The original post is below.

Microsoft has announced plans to increase its Xbox Live Gold subscription pricing, a controversial move as the company looks to migrate its users to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

While Xbox Live Gold was once its definitive online membership, in recent years, Microsoft has also scaled up Xbox Game Pass, a Netflix-style service with access to hundreds of Xbox games. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the latest addition, bundling Xbox Game Pass for Xbox and PC, EA Play, and Xbox cloud gaming into a single $15 monthly membership. And with the recent Xbox Live Gold changes, Microsoft is assumedly hoping more will flock to the value of its all-inclusive tier.

But with Xbox Live Gold codes stocked by most retailers, you can still find Xbox Live Gold subscriptions at $60 for 12-month codes, ahead of the price change. While stores are expected to adopt new pricing imminently, the days ahead could be your last opportunity to take advantage of the "old" price.

Microsoft will offer Xbox Live Gold for $11 per month moving forward, with three-month memberships costing $30 and six-month memberships costing $60. Microsoft removed its 12-month Xbox Live Gold memberships online back in July 2020. You also have the opportunity to upgrade to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Xbox Live Gold and access to hundreds of games on Xbox consoles, PC, and Android devices, for $15 a month. You can convert your existing Xbox Live Gold membership to the same period of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate through a current promotion. However, it's worth stressing that you can no longer access promotional Xbox Live Gold pricing online once you accept this offer.

The changes to Xbox Live Gold pricing don't immediately impact online subscribers, with those with auto-renewal enabled grandfathered in with discounted pricing. That means if you're paying for Xbox Live Gold six-month or 12-month memberships, this increase won't immediately hike your payments. But for those with shorter renewal periods or purchasing pre-paid Xbox Live Gold codes, prices will change over the coming weeks.

Updated Jan. 23, 12:03 a.m. ET: Very early Saturday morning, the Xbox team announced that it would be rolling back the price hike on Xbox Live Gold following negative feedback. Prices will stay the same for Xbox Live Gold Members — $9.99 for one month, $24.99 for three months, $39.99 for six months, and $59.99 for 12 months. The announcement also revealed that users will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play free-to-play games on Xbox. Our original editorial is below.

After building up mountains of good will with a solid next-gen Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launch, continued high-quality output into Xbox Game Pass, and big-name acquisitions such as the recent ZeniMax Media deal, Microsoft felt the need to remind us it is capable of truly strange decisions.

Today, after leaks and rumors, Microsoft revealed that yes, it is increasing the cost of Xbox Live Gold to double that of PlayStation's equivalent service. So, um, what?

What's going on with Xbox Live Gold?

While existing 12-month and 6-month subscribers won't be affected by this change, those on 1-month recurring subscriptions will be hit with an aggressive price gradation that now sees 12-months of Xbox Live Gold cost twice as much as Sony's equivalent service.

Xbox Live Gold gives you access to multiplayer on Xbox game consoles, in addition to four free download-to-own titles every month, although the quality on these games is often below par, to say the least. Beyond that, Xbox Live Gold doesn't really offer anything else.

Microsoft used to offer Xbox Live Gold for $60 per year, equivalent to Sony's PlayStation Plus service. Now, $60 will only net you six months unless you're an active subscriber with no plans to cancel. As usual, you can upgrade your Xbox Live Gold subscription into an Xbox Game Pass subscription at no additional cost, but that's not much comfort to someone who isn't interested in Xbox Game Pass.

PlayStation multiplayer beats Xbox on value

With this change, it's undeniable that PlayStation Plus offers a higher value proposition. 12 months of PlayStation Plus costs just half of what 12 months of Xbox Live gold costs now, but that's not all. PlayStation Network doesn't gate users who want to play free-to-play games. You know, games that are supposed to be free, like Fortnite or Rocket League.

Particularly for parents who may be struggling to justify monthly subscriptions as it is during the pandemic, letting their kids get access to these games without additional costs is undeniably offering better value. If you're a non-gaming parent of a youngster or someone who doesn't really play too many games, would you rather pay $120 a year for access to Fortnite or $0 a year?

I'm not sure what Microsoft thinks Xbox Live Gold does so much better than PlayStation Network to justify this price disparity.

This is really about Xbox Game Pass

I predicted a while ago that Xbox Live Gold's paywall would eventually go away but not any time soon. As Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers swell to replace the lost potential income from Xbox Live Gold, which is substantial, it stands to reason that gamers in markets that may be mobile-first, where Microsoft currently has zero presence, could become the subsidizing factor needed for Xbox console hardware. Indeed, the reason Xbox (and other consoles, for that matter) are generally cheaper entry points to high-end gaming is that they're subsidized by their subscriptions and services. Remove Xbox Live Gold overnight, and you blow a massive hole in your cash flow.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you access to a wide variety of benefits and is undoubtedly of a much, much higher value now than Xbox Live Gold by itself. No doubt, it is ultimately the plan to persuade gamers to move from Xbox Live Gold to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Whether that Xbox Live Gold's paywall goes away entirely depends on how much of that cost is already factored into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and the truth is we simply don't know whether or not that's the case. What certainly is the case is how old-fashioned and, frankly, weird Xbox Live Gold feels in 2021, when you're playing on merged multiplayer servers with PC and mobile gamers who, of course, don't have to pay to play.

This feels strangely aggressive

It might be argued that there's no "good time" to do a price increase, but right now, I can't think of a worse time. Microsoft bragged about its gaming revenue breaking records during the pandemic, and how does it thank its customers? Many of whom may even be new customers? With a big price hike.

This raises eyebrows about the health of the business in some ways. If it has to do something so drastic as to double its annual subscription over its closest competitor — who, to be fair, may well now follow suit with a similar price hike, is everything going so smoothly, as Microsoft often claims? Either way, Microsoft has given Sony an opportunity to showcase PlayStation Plus' value or raise prices in a gentler way that helps them avoid the kind of scrutiny Microsoft is receiving in bucketloads right now.

I can't help but wonder why Microsoft thought it was appropriate to do this in the middle of a pandemic, with record unemployment and hardship in many of Microsoft's key markets. This also puts a microscope over Microsoft's erroneous practice of paywalling free-to-play games. It also highlights that there is no family plan for Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass.

Finally, it also reminds us that, despite record revenues due to the boom tech companies saw over the past year while schools and workplaces shuttered, corporations can never be sated.

Xbox Game Pass

Main

• Get Xbox Game Pass For Just $1
• Xbox Game Pass: Everything To Know
• What is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
• Best Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One
• Best Xbox Game Pass for PC

What you need to know

• Earlier, Microsoft announced the price of Xbox Live Gold would be increased.
• This price hike has just been reversed.
• Additionally, Xbox Live Gold is no longer required for free-to-play games.

Earlier today, Microsoft announced the price of Xbox Live Gold was being increased, with a six month subscription going for $60. This led to a large outcry, including scathing commentary from our own Xbox lead Jez Corden, who called it "the worst deal in gaming."

Microsoft has just announced that the price hike is being cancelled. Additionally, Xbox Live Gold will no longer be required for free-to-play games, such as Fortnite or Call of Duty: Warzone. This latter change is being worked on but will be coming sometime "as soon as possible in the coming months."

Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate are staying unchanged, meaning they'll deliver the same benefits as before.

This change was sudden and brings Xbox Live Gold closer in line with PlayStation Plus, which has not been required for playing free-to-play online games. Halo Infinite is set to release sometime in Fall 2021 and when it does, the multiplayer will be free-to-play. Now, players will no longer need to pick up Xbox Live Gold in order to enjoy it, making it truly free.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets

What you need to know

• Xbox Live Gold allows players on console to play together online.
• Xbox Live Gold is going up in price across different regions, including the U.S.
• A one month subscription is going up by $1, while a six month subscription is now $60.

Updated Jan. 23, 12:51 a.m. ET: Very early Saturday morning, the Xbox team announced that it would be rolling back the price hike on Xbox Live Gold following negative feedback. Prices will stay the same for Xbox Live Gold Members — $9.99 for one month, $24.99 for three months, $39.99 for six months, and $59.99 for 12 months. The announcement also revealed that users will no longer need an Xbox Live Gold membership to play free-to-play games on Xbox. Our original news story is below.

Xbox Live Gold, the online service that allows Xbox console players to connect and play together online as well as a few free games per month, is seeing a price hike. As detailed on Xbox Wire, the one month plan for Xbox Live Gold is being increased by $1, while three months is now $30 and six months is $60.

If you're currently subscribed on an existing 12 month or six month plan, you'll keep your current price whenever you renew your subscription. You can convert your remaining Xbox Live Gold time into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at a one-to-one rate, so if you have five months left on your subscription, you'd get five months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Considering that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate includes Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass for PC and Xbox Cloud Gaming, this is a pretty easy choice to make.

Unlike its PlayStation counterpart, PlayStation Plus, Xbox Live Gold is required to play free-to-play games online, such as Fortnite. Xbox Live Gold is not required for PC players to play games online. These discrepancies have been the subject of much criticism from Xbox players, especially since Xbox Live Gold rarely gives away the best Xbox games month to month.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets

What you need to know

• Many have been speculating that Xbox Live Gold would soon be removed.
• This would allow players on Xbox One to use multiplayer without paying a subscription fee.
• Microsoft has told us nothing is changing for now.

Over the past few weeks, speculation has intensified that Xbox Live Gold, the paid subscription required for playing games online on Xbox One, would be going away in some capacity. This speculation further ramped up when people noticed some changes to the legal terminology in Microsoft's Services Agreement. Mentions of "Xbox Live" were changed to "Xbox Online Service."

Further excarberating matters, the multiplayer in Halo Infinite has been revealed as completely free-to-play, as we previously reported. Unfortunately, it appears that nothing is going to be changing on that front, at least in the immediate future. We reached out to Microsoft for comment on some of the rumors and speculation around Xbox Live Gold, and a Microsoft spokesperson offered us this statement.

Xbox Live Gold is bundled in with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, a tier that also includes Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta) and will soon include Xbox cloud gaming starting on September 15.

Right now, anyone playing Xbox titles like Sea of Thieves or Grounded on PC don't have to pay a subscription fee to access online multiplayer. We'll have to wait and see when or if this inequality is addressed moving forward.

Additionally, just because Xbox Live Gold isn't going away right now doesn't mean it won't face the chop at some point in the future, especially if Xbox Game Pass subscriptions reach a critical mass. We'll just have to hang tight.

Xbox Series X/S

Main

• Xbox Series X: Everything we know
• Best games coming to Xbox Series X/S
• List of Xbox Series X specs
• What is the Xbox Series X release date?
• How much does Xbox Series X cost?
• Why you can't preorder Xbox Series X yet
• Best Xbox Series X Headsets

What you need to know

• Every month Microsoft gives Xbox Live Gold members four free games.
• In August, you can download titles like Red Faction II.
• You'll need an active Xbox Live Gold subscription to access the titles.
• You can purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription through the Microsoft Store.

Today, Microsoft announced August 2020's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on August 1, Portal Knights and MX Unleashed will be free with the subscription. Then, on August 16, Red Faction II and Override: Mech City Brawl can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the Xbox 360 or original Xbox titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

Out of all of these, Red Faction II stands out the most. It's a great experience even after all these years. Be sure to get it for free when it's available Xbox Live Gold.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold into one package. The monthly subscription fee goes up to $15 a month, but you gain access to over two hundred games instantaneously.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

Xbox Live Gold is a recurring subscription service required to access multiplayer services on Xbox consoles. It costs around $60 per year if you purchase annual time cards, although Microsoft itself is no longer offering the option to buy 12 months of Xbox Live Gold digitally, although it remains available via some other retailers.

Microsoft's official line on why they've decided to do away with the 12-month digital subscription is fairly vague and non-committal, but it hasn't stopped rife speculation that Microsoft has removed it because it's gearing up to do away with Xbox Live Gold entirely.

Is this a realistic thing to expect in the future? Yes, it is. But I would be surprised if it happens any time soon.

Why does Xbox Live Gold exist?

Well, obviously, the answer is money. But it's a bit more complicated than that.

The cash flow from Xbox Live Gold has enabled Microsoft to realize some of its long-term ambitions with regards to server infrastructure and cloud. For the longest time, Xbox Live Gold was seen, and arguably still is seen, as the defacto most stable gaming network in the world, with features we now take for granted, such as party voice comms, dedicated servers, and beyond. Many of today's younger gamers probably won't be able to imagine a time when voice comms weren't a ubiquitous thing, but the social aspects of Xbox Live Gold, as well as its cloud infrastructure, simply wouldn't have been realized without the cash flow from Xbox Live Gold. It goes further than that, though.

When Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 up against the PlayStation 3, the price delta was rather enormous. You need only look at the price of a decent gaming PC vs. the price of a comparably-powerful console as well, for an example of how cheap subsidized hardware can be by comparison.

The far cheaper Xbox 360 allowed Microsoft to propel Xbox into the spotlight as a global brand, usurping several years of dominance from Sony's PlayStation. Xbox Live Gold, and now PSN+, also help to drive down costs of the hardware. If you can attach a subscription to every single console, or at least a portion of them, you can guarantee that you'll end up with better margins than you would've done if you'd just sold hardware at cost.

This is why executive vice-president of Gaming at Microsoft and Xbox chief, Phil Spencer, has previously discussed (via The Verge) the fact that the console business is less about selling consoles, and more about monetizing the users you do have. A console sold that doesn't attach a subscription (or games) is worth far, far less to a company.

It's with this in mind that, as of writing, I very strongly doubt we'll see Xbox Live Gold removed any time soon. Especially not as soon as the July 23rd Xbox showcase as some people are expecting.

Yes, it would be a massive announcement that would give Microsoft very, very strong differentiation against Sony's PlayStation 5, but from a pure business perspective, right now, it would be an incredibly risky move. I've spoken to Xbox Live staff in the past that have discussed the paywall at length, noting that those "Xbox Live Free to Play" weekends didn't do a great deal to drive engagement: anyone who wants to play online already pays for Xbox Live Gold, and is largely happy to do so. Not being able to guarantee Xbox Live Gold subscriptions moving across to the Xbox Series X would also potentially drive up the cost of the console, to meet target margins.

That being said, I still see Xbox Live Gold going away, eventually.

Why might Xbox Live Gold be removed?

The industry is rapidly shifting focus, with PC by far and away the dominant force in "core" gaming. Mobile gaming didn't wash over the industry and shift all of us over to Candy Crush-lovers as some analysts predicted in previous years, but more and more of us globally are playing on Windows PC, either instead of, or alongside Xbox consoles. The gradual decline of the "walled garden"-style closed-off networks is also opening up all sorts of cross-play scenarios, with Xbox at the forefront. Minecraft is still one of the only games, if not the only game that lets you play with friends across VR, mobile phones, all consoles, and PC simultaneously. This is a vision of gaming Microsoft wants to eventually spread across its entire portfolio, within reason.

Increasingly, the paywall for multiplayer seems old fashioned, and maybe even antithetical to Microsoft's vision of a big connected network that spans storefronts and form factors. Xbox Live's "Games with Gold" program, which offers free titles as part of the multiplayer access package, has arguably decreased in quality over time as well, as Microsoft shifts its focus to its other big subscription service: Xbox Game Pass, which features some of the best games from the Xbox portfolio for a relatively low monthly fee.

In addition, Microsoft announced that Project xCloud is joining Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in September at no extra cost, includes over 100 games, increasing the pressure on competitor Google Stadia with a single announcement.

Since Game Pass Ultimate already includes Xbox Live Gold, factored into its overall cost, it's safe to assume that Microsoft's longer-term goal is to shift users over to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and Xbox Game Pass in general. Removing the barrier to multiplayer seems like a logical conclusion in this brave new world of user acquisition over hardware sales.

It would be such a huge salvo against Sony, with a narrative that is easy to understand for consumers at large. It would be a big feather in Microsoft's cap, and a strong piece of differentiation. Sony has been relatively slow to really throw its IP weight behind PlayStation Now, offering a few older titles here and there. The fact Halo Infinite will be available day-and-date as part of Xbox Game Pass makes it the premier gaming subscription service, and it will undoubtedly be where Microsoft prioritizes its subscription focus in the future, whether it simply rolls Xbox Live Gold into the base tier, or just removes it altogether.

As of writing, I feel like Microsoft would see it as a risk and gamble to simply get rid of it in the short term, the same year a new console is launching. But at the same time, Microsoft has a history of being pretty unpredictable at times, and they can certainly afford to do it. As more and more of us pick up Xbox Game Pass, though, I feel like it's inevitable.

Changing landscape of console gaming

I expect Microsoft will continue pushing and heaping more value onto Xbox Game Pass. Perhaps they could even shift the free monthly Games with Gold straight into Xbox Game Pass instead to further encourage users to migrate to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Xbox Live Gold is certainly cheaper than Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but it's hard to deny the value contained therein. All of Microsoft's exclusive games, Project xCloud streaming to mobile phones and later, PCs, and exclusive discounts on games you can buy-to-own before they leave the program. It's a great service, and undoubtedly where the future of Xbox lies.

I truly believe Xbox Live Gold's days are numbered, but I also believe it ultimately depends on how fast gamers uptake on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, when it comes to timelines. We'll just have to wait and see.

Related: Best mounts for Project xCloud gaming

What you need to know

• Recently, Microsoft removed the 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscription from the Microsoft Store.
• Customers can still subscribe to the one-month and three-month membership.
• This may be due to a focus on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
• Microsoft didn't clarify as to why it removed the 12-month option from Xbox One.

A few days ago, a number of Xbox One users noticed that you couldn't buy a 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscription from the Microsoft Store for the console. While many thought this was an error, it turns out that the company purposely removed the stock-keeping unit (SKU) from the website. Microsoft issued the following statement to TrueAchievements, confirming the purposeful removal.

It's unclear why the company would do this, but it may be related to the fact that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the company's new focus according to recent earnings calls. It includes Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass for PC, Xbox Live Gold, better editions of first-party games, and even Project xCloud game streaming from September.

After the $1 upgrade and trial period ends, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $5 more for the month-to-month plan than Xbox Live Gold.

Keep in mind all of this is speculation since Microsoft didn't clarify the reason behind the removal. What do you think? Why did Microsoft remove the 12-month option? Let us know.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

Gaming can be a very expensive hobby, but thankfully Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you the chance to save with discounts on digital games, free game downloads every month, and access to over 100 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games to play whenever you want!

The service combines Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass at a discount, and thanks to a sale at Amazon, you can score over $20 off the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-month Subscription today. At just $24.99, that's like paying only $8.33 per month for access.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the combination of two current programs: Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold. Subscribers to Ultimate will have access to both for one monthly subscription cost instead of two separate ones and, at its regular price, it offers a $5 discount on the two services. Additionally, the Xbox Game Pass for PC subscription is also included with Game Pass Ultimate.

Xbox Game Pass is a subscription service that offers complete access to over 100 Xbox One and Xbox 360 games. You can download these to your console to play in full for as long as you're a paying subscriber or the titles in question remain in the Game Pass library. Better yet, if a Game Pass title also supports Xbox Play Anywhere, you get access to play those on your PC, as well, as part of your subscription. The PC-specific Game Pass subscription has its own list of games, some of which are a crossover with the console, but many are exclusive to PC.

Meanwhile, Xbox Live Gold features provide you with a number of perks. The first is access to online multiplayer in any Xbox One game, so if you want to play with friends you need Gold. More than that, though, Gold gives you free games every month that are yours to keep. Gold subscribers also earn exclusive discounts on games from the Microsoft Store, as well as additional discounts during special promotional periods.

Learn everything you need to know about Game Pass Ultimate and see all the games available for Game Pass for PC. Game Pass adds new games all the time, so you'll always have new titles like Kingdom Hearts 3, Yakuza 0, and Ninja Gaiden 2 to check out.

What you need to know

• Xbox Live Gold grants you access to multiplayer and free games.
• Project CARS 2 and Fable Anniversary are now available for free.
• The other games for April include Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle and Toybox Turbos.
• Xbox Live Gold is part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Updated April 3, 2020: The other two games for April include Knights of Pen and Paper Bundle and Toybox Turbos. They'll be available on April 16. In Knights of Pen and Paper, take on the roles of in-game players taking on the roles of their characters in a traditional pen-and-paper game session in the ultimate meta roleplaying experience. Toybox Turbos is a racing game by acclaimed developer Codemaster which reboots classic tabletop racing experiences. However, there's some confusion about whether Toybox Turbos has been replaced by Blinx: The Time Sweeper.

Microsoft hasn't revealed the Xbox Live Games with Gold for April 2020, but it seems like they're already available for download. Today, many gamers on Reddit and Twitter noticed that Project CARS 2 and Fable Anniversary were free with the service. You can download them right now through the Microsoft Store in a browser or your console.

According to Slightly Mad Studios, Project CARS 2 is the thrill of intense racing action in beautiful cars at stunning venues. Authentic and intuitive handling, truly dynamic weather, and a wealth of game modes delivers racing fun for everyone.

According to Microsoft, Fable pioneered every player's choice having a consequence. With Fable Anniversary, a spectacular remaster of the original Fable, players will be reminded of why the franchise is so special and unique. All-new textures and models, an entirely new lighting system, a slick new interface, achievements, and all of the content from "The Lost Chapters," make Fable Anniversary the definitive Fable experience.

We'll keep you posted as soon as we know what the other games for the month are. Your guess is as good as mine.

What you need to know

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is an incredibly popular first-person shooter from Activision.
• Images of a mode called "Warzone" were floating around for weeks.
• The battle royale mode launches as a free-to-play experience, but requires Xbox Live Gold.
• The complete Call of Duty: Modern Warfare costs $60 on Amazon.

It's no secret that Infinity Ward has been developing a battle royale mode for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. However, it looks like it's called "Warzone." According to a report by MSPoweruser, "players of the newly-updated version of Modern Warfare have been able to glitch their way through the recently added Classified menu... Players will be able to run a training course, host a squad for teams, and matchmake into a random squad... Warzone was also recently leaked through an accidentally released promotional image which was promptly deleted."

Yesterday, even more details about the game leaked on Twitter. A promotional image surfaced again and it said that the title was a standalone free-to-play experience. Firstly, as expected, it supports cross-play just like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Secondly, it'll be a last-person-standing or last-team-standing experience. Lastly, classic maps have been integrated to the larger map so you'll recognize familiar areas.

We also received confirmation from Activision that the free-to-play mode was launching on March 10. However, there's a downside to it all. On PlayStation 4, you don't need PlayStation Plus to play it, but on Xbox One, you need Xbox Live Gold. PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold are subscription services that allow you to play multiplayer games on both consoles.

It's a shame that the Xbox Live Gold requirement hasn't been removed for free-to-play multiplayer games. Hopefully, that'll change as we get into the next generation with Xbox Series X. We you excited for Warzone? Will you play it? Let us know. It seems like new players will have to download the entire Call of Duty: Modern Warfare client – that's around 100 GB – if they want to jump in.

What you need to know

• Every month Microsoft gives Xbox Live Gold members four free games.
• In March 2020, you can download titles like Shantae: Half-Genie Hero.
• You need an active Xbox Live Gold subscription to access Xbox One games.
• You can purchase Xbox Live Gold through Amazon.

Today, Microsoft announced March 2020's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on March 1, Batman: The Enemy Within - The Complete Season and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will be free with the subscription. Then, on March 16, Shantae: Half-Genie Hero and Sonic Generations can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the Xbox 360 or original Xbox titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

You can read about the games below.

Batman: The Enemy Within - The Complete Season

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero

Sonic Generations

All of these are great games, but we're partial to Batman: The Enemy Within. It's just fantastic!

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold into one package. The monthly subscription fee goes up to $15 a month, but you gain access to over two hundred games instantaneously.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Every month Microsoft gives Xbox Live Gold members four free games.
• In January, you can download titles like Batman: The Telltale Series and Tekken 6.
• You need an active Xbox Live Gold subscription to access Xbox One games, Xbox 360 titles are yours forever.
• You can purchase Xbox Live Gold subscription through Amazon.

Today, Microsoft announced January 2020's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on January 1, Styx: Shards of Darkness and Tekken 6 will be free with the subscription. Then, on January 16, Batman: The Telltale Series - The Complete Season and Lego Star Wars II can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the Xbox 360 titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

According to Microsoft, January's lineup provides almost $65 in value and up to 4,000 Gamerscore. You can read about the free games below.

Batman: The Telltale Series

Lego Star Wars II

Styx: Shards of Darkness

Tekken 6

Be sure to download all four of these games next month because many of them are great experiences. Out of all of these, we would recommend playing Batman: The Telltale Series and Tekken 6 because they're incredible titles.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold into one package. The monthly subscription fee goes up to $15 a month, but you gain access to over two hundred games instantaneously.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Every month Microsoft gives Xbox Live Gold members four free games.
• In December, you can download titles like Jurassic World Evolution and Toy Story 3.
• You need an active Xbox Live Gold subscription to access Xbox One games, Xbox 360 titles are yours forever.
• You can purchase Xbox Live Gold subscription through Amazon.

Today, Microsoft announced December 2019's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on December 1, Insane Robots and Toy Story 3 will be free with the subscription. Then, on December 16, Jurassic World Evolution and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate HD can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the Xbox 360 titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

According to Microsoft, December's lineup provides almost $95 in value and up to 3,585 in Gamerscore. You can read about the free games below.

Insane Robots

Toy Story 3

Jurassic World Evolution

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD

Be sure to download all four of these games next month because many of them are great experiences. Out of all of these, we would recommend playing Jurassic World Evolution and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD because they're incredible titles.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold into one package. The monthly subscription fee goes up to $15 a month, but you gain access to over two hundred games instantaneously.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Every month Microsoft gives Xbox Live Gold members four free games.
• In November, you can download titles like Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter and Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter.
• You need an active Xbox Live Gold subscription to access Xbox One games, Xbox 360 titles are yours forever.
• You can purchase Xbox Live Gold subscription through Amazon.

Today, Microsoft announced November's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on November 1, Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter and Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter will be free with the subscription. Then, on November 16, The Final Station and Joy Ride Turbo can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the Xbox 360 titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

According to Microsoft, November's lineup provides over $89 in value and up to 2,200 in Gamerscore. You can read about the free games below.

Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter

Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter is a third-person crime thriller where you take control of Sherlock Holmes. While you have to keep on investigating various cases, there is an overarching plot that has a surprise twist. You won't see it coming! This is probably the most intriguing title in my opinion.

Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter

Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter is regarded as a cult classic because it's a compelling space shooter. You get to pilot a deadly craft and destroy rogue forces. It's quite a lot of fun, even though the visuals are a little dated after all these years. While you can always play it on Xbox 360, the game came out on the PlayStation 2 and original Xbox.

The Final Station

The Final Station is a pixelated adventure where you hop aboard a train and have to get past a zombie apocalypse. However, a number of challenging scenarios are thrown your way so you have to improvise along your journey.

Joy Ride Turbo

Lastly, Joy Ride Turbo is a cute racing game where you perform insane stunts as you challenge your friends. There's a lot to love about the title, and if you're looking for a break between those heavy-hitters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, then be sure to check it out.

Be sure to download all four of these games next month because many of them are great experiences. Out of all of these, we would recommend playing Sherlock Holmes: The Devil's Daughter and Star Wars: Jedi Starfighter because they're incredible titles.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold into one package. The monthly subscription fee goes up to $15 a month, but you gain access to over two hundred games instantaneously.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Every month Microsoft gives Xbox Live Gold members four free games.
• In October, you can download titles like Friday the 13th: The Game and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge.
• You can purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription through Amazon.

Today, Microsoft announced October's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on October 1, Tembo the Badass Elephant and Bolt will be free with the subscription. Then, on October 16, Friday the 13th: The Game and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the Xbox 360 titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

According to the Microsoft, October's lineup provides over $74 in value and up to 4,000 in Gamerscore. You can read about the free games below.

Tembo the Badass Elephant

Tembo the Badass Elephant is a platformer about, well, you guessed it, an elephant. This particular pachyderm is on a rampage and it's up to you to make sure he reaches his destination. The visuals are great and the gameplay is a lot of fun. Curiously enough, the tile was published by Sega on a variety of platforms, including Xbox One.

Bolt

Bolt is an action game based on the popular Disney film. You take on the heroic personas of the star dog, Bolt, and his owner, Penny, from the television series featured within the film. There's a lot to do in the game, but only fans of the film will truly enjoy the experience.

Friday the 13th: The Game

Friday the 13th: The Game is an asymmetrical multiplayer game that puts you in the shoes of the infamous killer, Jason, or some camp counselors. The race is on to see who survives. Will Jason be able to kill everyone or will the counselors be able to escape him at every turn. Matches are quite harrowing and it's a lot of fun with friends.

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge

Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge has to be the star of the show. It's a third-person action game that may not be as great as its predecessors, but it still offers plenty of challenges. If you're looking for an experience along the lines of Nioh on PlayStation 4, then be sure to give this title a go. You won't be disappointed. The visuals even hold up to this day.

Be sure to download all four of these games next month because many of them are great experiences. Out of all of these, we would recommend playing Friday the 13th: The Game and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge because they're incredible titles.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold into one package. The monthly subscription fee goes up to $15 a month, but you gain access to over two hundred games instantaneously.

Xbox

Main

• What is Xbox Game Pass?
• Best 4K TVs for Xbox Series X and S
• Must-buy Xbox One Headsets
• Our Favorite Xbox One Wireless Headsets
• Best Upcoming Xbox Games for 2021
• Xbox One X vs. Xbox Series S

What you need to know

• Microsoft is kicking off another set of free play days for Xbox Live Gold members this weekend.
• You can check out Black Desert and Puyo Puyo Champions for free through August 18.
• Both games are also on sale, with Black Desert for $21 and Puo Puyo Champions for $5.

As Microsoft is wont to do, it's running another set of free play days on Xbox One for Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate players to check out some new games this weekend. Starting now and running through August 18, you'll be able to dive into both Black Desert and Puyo Puyo Champions for free. Microsoft is also running discounts on both games for the duration of the free play days, knocking Black Desert down to $21 for the base game and Puyo Puyo Champions to $5.

Black Desert is an open world massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that gives players the chance to take the fight to gods and monsters, or sit back and relax with some crafting. Because it's an MMORPG, you can team up with friends to take down foes as a guild, as well as trade and adventure with players you run across in the wild. Kamasylvia, the birthplace of the game's elves, has also been added to the game, giving player new areas to explore and lore to experience.

Puyo Puyo Champions, on the other hand, is a classic puzzle game that will take some strategy to dominate. You can play in both single player and multiplayer modes, with the latter providing some interesting gameplay as you try to foil your opponent. The game also comes with varying rulesets, so you can change up the action on the fly.

Both games are available to play for free and can be installed to your Xbox without paying a dime during the free play days. The only requirement is that you have an active Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to download the games.

What you need to know

• Every month Microsoft gives Xbox Live Gold members four free games.
• In August, you can download titles like Gears of War 4 and Forza Motorsport 6.
• These are some of the best first-party games from Microsoft.
• You can purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription through Amazon.

Today, Microsoft announced August's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on August 1, Gears of War 4 and Torchlight will be free with the subscription. Then, on August 16, Forza Motorsport 6 and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the Xbox 360 titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

According to the company, August's lineup provides almost $95 in value and up to 6,200 in Gamerscore. You can read about the free games below.

Gears of War 4

Forza Motorsport 6

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow

Torchlight

Be sure to download all four of these games next month because many of them are great experiences. Out of all of these, we would recommend playing Gears of War 4 and Forza Motorsport 6 because they're incredible titles that hold up even after a few years.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles Xbox Game Pass for Xbox One, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold into one package. The monthly subscription fee goes up to $15 a month, but you gain access to over two hundred games instantaneously. Amazon is selling a three-month subscription for $45 at the moment.

Excellent and affordable Xbox accessories

Up your Xbox experience with one (or all) of these budget accessories, all of which are approved by the gamers of Windows Central.

PowerA Play & Charge Kit for Xbox One ($15 at Amazon)

This charging kit keeps your Xbox One wireless controllers juiced up, and it offers batteries for two controllers. At just $15, this is hands-down our favorite budget charging companion.

ElecGear 4 Port USB Xbox One S Hub ($19 at Amazon)

This brilliant little USB splitter hub attaches perfectly to the side of your Xbox One S console. It's ideal for use with chargers, controllers, headsets, and more.

Controller Gear stand ($13 at Amazon)

Proudly display your Xbox gamepads with this stylish and functional stand. The licensed design is minimalist and black, and it has a hidden storage compartment, making the price of $13 a real steal.

What you need to know

• Every month Microsoft gives Xbox Live Gold members four free games.
• In July, you can download titles like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Inside.
• You can purchase an Xbox Live Gold subscription through Amazon.

Today, Microsoft announced July's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on July 1, Inside and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night will be free with the subscription. Then, on July 16, Big Crown: Showdown and Meet the Robinsons can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the Xbox 360 titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

According to the company, July's lineup provides almost $63 in value and up to 3,200 in Gamerscore. You can read about the free games below.

Inside

Inside is a side-scrolling platforming which follows the journey of a young boy in a world without free will. It's your task to undercover the mysteries behind an oppressive regime and rescue your family. However, the path is filled with mysterious creatures and other horrors.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is regarded as a cult classic and might be the biggest Castlevania game to date. Even though it initially launched in 1997, the gameplay mechanics hold up even to this date. The Xbox 360 port is one of the better ones out there. The game continues the stories of the series and introduces a surprising protagonist this time around.

Big Crown: Showdown

Unlike the aforementioned games, we haven't played Big Crown: Showdown. According to the developer, the title requires friends to compete in four-player local and online multiplayer combat, set over three wacky worlds full of medieval shenanigans.

Meet the Robinsons

Meet the Robinsons was quite a popular film that premiered in 2007. This is the tie-in game. The plot revolves around a family's whacky time-travel exploits. However, as is always the case, things don't go according to plan.

Be sure to download all four of these games next month because many of them are great experiences. Out of all of these, we would recommend playing Inside and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night because they're incredible titles that hold up even to this day.

There's a promotion going on through the Microsoft Store which lets you upgrade to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – which includes Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold – for $1. Amazon is also selling a three-month subscription for $20.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

Today, Microsoft announced May's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on May 1, Marooners and Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon will be free with the subscription. Then, on May 16, The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour and Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the Xbox 360 titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

While May's selection doesn't quite live up to what Xbox Live Gold members have received in the past couple of months, experiences like Marooners and The Golf Club 2019 are still quite a lot of fun.

Marooners

Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon

The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour

Comic Jumper: The Adventures of Captain Smiley

Be sure to download all four of these games next month because many of them are great. Out of all of these, we would recommend playing The Golf Club 2019 featuring PGA Tour because it's an excellent simulation.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is Microsoft's all-new program that combines its two major Xbox digital services into one; Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold. Many are subscribers of both and have been asking for a single subscription to cover the pair, and Microsoft is going to deliver sometime later in 2019.

However, if you're in the Xbox Insider Program, you may be able to enroll right now and give it a whirl. Here's what you need to know.

Who can get Xbox Live Ultimate right now?

Eventually, anyone will be able to buy a subscription to Xbox Live Ultimate. Right now, however, it's only open to select members of the Xbox Insider Program.

More specifically, it's only currently open to members of the "Alpha" and "Skip Ahead" rings of the Xbox Insider Program. There's a chance Microsoft could expand this as we get closer to launch, but right now if you're not in one of those two rings, you can't get in on the testing of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

How to enroll in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

If you meet the right criteria, here's how to enroll in the testing of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

1. On your Xbox One, open the Xbox Insider Hub application.
2. In the menu, select Insider content.
3. Choose the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate program.
4. Press Join.

How much does Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cost?

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will cost $15 a month when it launches, but during the testing phase, this is greatly reduced to just $1/£1 per month. Better still, if you already have prepaid Xbox Live Gold or Game Pass applied to your account, Microsoft will honor this with free Game Pass Ultimate membership.

From the FAQ:

You manage Xbox Game Pass Ultimate from the console in the same way as any other subscriptions, and once you've enrolled in the testing program you'll see immediately when your next payment of $1/£1 will be taken.

You don't need to cancel your current Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass subscriptions either, these are automatically terminated once you join Ultimate.

You can also cancel Ultimate at any time during the testing phase.

In the meantime, those not enrolled in the Xbox Insider Program can purchase standard Xbox Game Pass today.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

Microsoft just revealed Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, an all-inclusive Xbox One subscription, compiled of its existing Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold memberships. The former currently grants access to a Netflix-style library of over 200 titles, while Gold unlocks the full capabilities of its gaming network. Bundling the two in-house Xbox subscriptions into a cohesive package, the merger makes the duo available for one $14.99 monthly fee.

As first unveiled during Microsoft's Inside Xbox broadcast, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is roughly $5 cheaper than purchasing Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass separately, on a month-by-month basis.

It's an ideal proposition for those invested in both services, cutting down monthly cost and condensing payments. However, Microsoft has committed only to $14.99 monthly pricing, without any indication of upfront prepaid annual plans.

From Microsoft's press release:

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate expected in 2019

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is "coming later this year" and will be available across all existing Xbox Game Pass regions. Microsoft plans to trial the package via the Xbox Insider Program in the meantime, now distributing invites to a "limited number" of members.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate pairs smartly with the Xbox One S All-Digital Edition, its ambitious disc-less console set for a May 7, 2019 release. Ditching its optical disc drive to pursue a $249 retail price, Microsoft continues to embrace the ever-connected nature of online gaming services.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)

PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.

Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this accessory.

It looks like prices for Xbox Live Gold in the United Kingdom are going up. Due to the Brexit situation in the country, the price of the pound has shifted in front of the dollar. Microsoft is seemingly distributing messages to Xbox Live Gold members as a result, indicating they'll soon be paying £50 a year, instead of £40. The same goes for the 3-month subscription which is going from £15 to £18.

An Xbox Live Gold member, James Lyle, reached out to us with the message he received on his console, notifying affected Xbox Live subscribers of the changes. It's safe to say that it's going to come as a shock to many, but considering the fact that Microsoft is based in the United States, market conditions do result in price increases from time to time.

We've reached out to Microsoft for comment and shall update you as soon as we receive a response. In order to avoid this, we would recommend stocking up on Xbox Live Gold cards right now. That way you'll be paying £40 for even longer.

Update April 4, 2019: Microsoft has responded to us with the following information. "To ensure gamers have consistent pricing for Xbox Live Gold across Europe we are making changes to UK pricing from May 8th. Prices will rise by £1 a month for our monthly subscriptions, £3 for our quarterly subscriptions and by £10 a year for an annual membership. This new pricing is aligned to the changes we made in the region in 2016 as we strive to offer our members premium gaming and entertainment services at a fair price. We have notified members whose accounts are on recurring billing in the UK so they are aware well in advance."

There are frequent sales on Xbox Live Gold memberships so all is not lost. Unless you buy directly from the Microsoft Store, chances are that Amazon or some other retailer will be selling a 12-month subscription at a discount.

Xbox accessories you'll love

Talon Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)

The Talon Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.

Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)

Stand your console upright with this affordable accessory.

Xbox One X vertical stand ($6 at Amazon)

Grab this compatible vertical stand to save space.

Today, Microsoft announced April's free Games with Gold for Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners. Starting on April 1, The Technomancer and Star Wars: Battlefront II will be free with the subscription. Keep in mind that this is the first Star Wars: Battlefront II that launched on the original Xbox in 2005. Then, on April 16, Outcast: Second Contact and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 can be downloaded at no cost. You need an active Xbox Live membership to play the Xbox One games, but the original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles are yours to keep after you redeem them once. It doesn't matter if you're still an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

• See Xbox Live Gold at Amazon
• See Xbox Live Gold at Microsoft Store

According to the company, April's lineup provides over $109 in value and up to 3,000 in Gamerscore. You can read about the titles below.

The Technomancer

The Technomancer is a role-playing game which takes place on Mars. You have to use a combination of various weapons to uncover the truth and unravel a conspiracy that threatens everyone. Have you ever played Bound by Flame? Well, The Technomancer is from the same developer.

Outcast: Second Contact

Outcast: Second Contact is a remake of the original cult classics from the early days of gaming. While the visuals have been overhauled, the control scheme remains the same. The "floaty" controls may be the biggest barrier to entry because you can't shoot enemies with much precision. Luckily, there are ways around that. Outcast: Second Contact was one of the first games to feature open-world environments and a fast-travel system.

Star Wars: Battlefront II

What can be said about the original Star Wars: Battlefront II that hasn't been said before, it's an amazing third-person multiplayer game. This is what EA's title should've been when it launched a few years back. Instead, the new game was full of microtransactions and other balancing issues. If you want to relive the good old days, be sure to check out the original Xbox title.

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 is a third-person action game which takes place across diverse locations. While the title may not be comparable to modern games due to its technical limitations, it's still a lot of fun if you want to see how experiences like Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands and The Division 2 were influenced by it. If you already own it on Xbox 360, the good news is that it became backward compatible today.

Be sure to download all four of these games next month because many of them are great experiences. Out of all of these, we would recommend playing Star Wars: Battlefront II because it's an incredible title that holds up even to this day.

Microsoft is gearing up for another round of free play days on Xbox One this weekend, and, this time, Gears of War 4 is on the menu. The game will be free to play for Xbox Live Gold members throughout the weekend, running from January 31 through the end of the day on February 3.

Gears of War 4 first landed in 2016, so it's a bit long in the tooth at this point. Still, this weekend should give anyone who hasn't acquainted themselves with the series a chance to check it out in all of its brutal glory. And if you have an Xbox One X, the game is enhanced and runs at up to 60fps in 4K with HDR.

Once the weekend is over, you can keep all of your progress if you decide to buy Gears of War 4. Alternatively, all of the titles from the Gears of War series are also available as part of Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass subscription service, so you can make your way through the entire series by signing up.

• See Gears 4 at Microsoft
• See Xbox Game Pass

Why buy Xbox Live Gold from the Microsoft Store?

Xbox Live Gold is Microsoft's premier Xbox One subscription, highlighting the best of its online capabilities. It unlocks multiplayer, alongside regular free games and discounts, making it an essential accompaniment to the console in 2018.

The Microsoft Store offers Xbox Live Gold in 1-month, 3-month, and 1-year installments, with discounts when purchasing longer subscriptions. While a monthly renewal costs $10, annual subscriptions retail for just $60. That's a 50 percent savings when buying upfront.

Furthermore, Microsoft often serves discounts and promotions for Xbox Live Gold, offering limited-time savings or bonuses. Tailored promotions may also surface when your subscription has nearly ended, providing a further incentive to stay onboard. Right now, Microsoft has discounted 3-month subscriptions from $25 down to $10 quarterly. which means you save up to $60 annually.

With Xbox Live now tied to Microsoft accounts, there's tighter integration with devices outside the living room. It makes the Microsoft Store the most seamless, convenient place to buy Xbox Live Gold, automatically binding your subscription to your Xbox profile. You won't need to wait for physical cards or redeem codes; the benefits are instantly available on your Xbox One.

Don't ignore other deals

While the Microsoft Store brings the convenience of a first-party storefront, don't overlook other retailers. Third-party sellers often independently discount prepaid codes, making for opportunities to secure cheap subscriptions. Amazon is among the many regularly cutting multi-month keys, while CDKeys offer competitive pricing all year round.

Discounted prepaid codes can still be stacked on top of an existing subscription, rewarding those who accumulate memberships over time. If you can find the right deals, it's a great way to save outside of your standard renewal.

Microsoft is once again launching a weekend of free play days for Xbox Live Gold members, and this time Halo Wars 2 and Conan Exiles are on deck. While Microsoft has yet to announce the promotion, you can currently find both titles listed in the "Free Play Days" portion of the "Deals" section on your Xbox console.

Released in early 2017, Halo Wars 2 is the real-time strategy (RTS) followup to the original. Set not long after the story of Halo 5, Halo Wars 2 finds players battling against a group known as the Banished. All of the hallmarks of an RTS are here, tasking players with gathering resources and building up their armies in an effort to go up against the Banished in all-out war.

Conan Exiles, meanwhile, is a survival title set in the fictional universe from Conan the Barbarian. Players have to battle against the elements, wildlife, and other players in a bid to survive the game's massive open world.

As is typical with free play days, any progress you make in either game should carry over if you opt to pick them up after your free time is up. Halo Wars 2 and Conan Exiles are also currently available for $20 and $30, respectively.

• See Halo Wars 2 at Microsoft
• See Conan Exiles at Microsoft

If you still haven't gone in on an Xbox Live Gold subscription, Microsoft is giving everyone a little taste for free this weekend. Running from today through August 12, Xbox Live multiplayer will be open to everyone across Xbox One for every game.

Any multiplayer titles you currently own will allow you to take part in the action. But if you're looking for something new to play, Microsoft has the hookup there as well. Throughout the weekend, RPG epic The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited and arcade racer OnRush are both available to play for free.

The free weekend is already in effect, and you'll have through 11:59 p.m. PT on August 12 to take part. Normally, Xbox Live Gold costs $9.99 per month, and includes fresh lineup of free games for subscribers to get their hands on every month.

If you're busy this weekend, Microsoft runs these events once every few of months or so, and this certainly won't be the last we see. Are there any games you're planning to leap into this weekend?

See at Microsoft

Xbox Live is Microsoft's online gaming service. Subscribing to Xbox Live Gold lets you play multiplayer and grants you access four free titles each month. Usually, a twelve-month subscription costs $59.99, but Microsoft is discounting it for the next fourteen days. Starting today, you can pick it up for just $39.99 (£26.50 in the United Kingdom). Now's a great time to renew because you'll save $20 which can be used towards another game. Considering that the Ultimate Game Sale starts tomorrow, it might be worth saving that amount.

Gold members gain access to amazing titles like Splinter Cell: Conviction this month so be sure to redeem that on your console if you haven't already. Xbox Live Gold is necessary if you own an Xbox One because multiplayer gaming is a core experience of the ecosystem.

See at Microsoft Store

Keep an eye on WindowsCentral.com/Gaming for all the latest in Xbox and Windows 10 gaming, accessories, news, and reviews!

One of the many perks of having Xbox Live Gold is free play weekends, where you'll occasionally get the chance to play a game without restrictions, completely free for a few days. And this weekend is no exception, with three titles there to keep you busy.

The latest selection includes XCOM 2 ($19.80), Just Cause 3 ($6) and For Honor ($19.80), all of which are also available to buy at quite hefty discounts should you enjoy them enough to want to carry on.

The free play days are now live so you can head on into the Store on your Xbox One and install them right now.

Xbox's massive Spring Sale isn't the only place you can save some cash on your gaming hobby for the next couple of weeks. Microsoft is also offering up a solid deal for new Xbox Live Gold subscribers, utting the price of a three-month subscription to $9.99.

That's a $15 drop from the usual $24.99 price for a three-month membership, and it brings the cost down to what a single month normally costs. For the money, Xbox Live Gold will let you play online and download the free Xbox Games with Gold for the duration of the subscription.

If you haven't given Xbox Live Gold a try yet, this is a solid reason to jump in. The sale is set to run for 14 more days, ending on April 10. If interested, you can sign up at Microsoft. Also be sure to check out our roundup of Microsoft's huge Spring Sale if you're looking to boost your digital game library.

See at Microsoft

Xbox Live Gold members will once again get a chance to dive into the world of Tamriel for free this weekend. Microsoft announced that The Elder Scrolls Online will be free to play for Gold subscribers now through the end of the day on Tuesday, March 27.

As usual with these free play days, any progress you make will carry over to the full game if you decide to buy in. That means any characters you create will still be available, and you'll be able to pick up where you left off. Just be aware that you're in for a hefty download if you want to give The Elder Scrolls Online a shot: the game weighs in at around 80GB.

Given that Bethesda just announced the next expansion for The Elder Scrolls Online, Summerset, will launch in June, now's as good a time as any to see if the world of Tamriel strikes your fancy. And if you're playing on Xbox One X, The Elder Scrolls Online's 4K and HDR support is a good way to check out the extra power afforded by the console.

If you're and Xbox Live Gold member, you can download The Elder Scrolls Online from its product page at the Microsoft Store on your Xbox now. The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind, which bundles the base game with the Morrowind expansion, is also currently up for grabs at a discount.

• See at Microsoft Store
• Sign up for Xbox Live Gold

If you can buy your Xbox Live Gold subscriptions up front over paying monthly, you'll always save a bit. But the newest promotion from the Xbox team sees you get six months for the price of three. The marketing is geared around PUBG (because isn't everything right now) but there's certainly no requirement to buy the game.

It seems to be more than just the U.S. getting this at least, with other supported countries including Mexico, Brazil, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Australia. And since you're buying a code, why not double up and get a full year for the price of six months.

Amazon has been ahead of the game on this, though, as our pals at Thrifter broke before Microsoft, if you'd prefer to get your stuff from there.

Hit the link below to get started.

See at Microsoft

Best Buy is holding its own sale on a pre-paid card with 12 months of Xbox Live Gold. It's available online, or via in-store pickup, for just $39.99, or $20 off its normal $59.99 price.

We have seen these kinds of sales before on 12 month Xbox Live Gold memberships, but if you live near a Best Buy store, you won't have to wait for the mail to show up to get the card. You can simply order it from the website and then drive down and pick it up yourself.

Xbox Live Gold not only allows Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners to play online multiplayer games, but it also offers up to four free games per month that in total are worth more than the cost of a one-year subscription. In other words, getting 12 months of Xbox Live for a $20 discount is a pretty good value.

See at Best Buy

As promised, Microsoft is now offering Xbox Live Gold members a chance to change their gamertag to one of nearly 1 million old ones that are now being recycled.

Microsoft says

Some of the gamertags that have been freed up include:

• Proper Names
• Pop culture references (Entertainment, sports, gaming)
• Types of Food
• Geography and Travel
• Science and Technology
• Math and Numbers
• Animals
• Some of the greatest inventions of all time

Xbox Live Gold subscribers with active subscriptions and at least 1 year of cumulative Xbox Live Gold access can change their gamertag at Xbox.com. They can also change them via the Xbox Windows 10 app or on the Xbox One console.

Change your gamertag at Xbox.com